Mobile gaming apps, the business side of digital games, marketing strategies, and innovation in the toy industry are just a few of the topics that will be covered by more than 20 speakers from the kids’ entertainment industry at Engage Digital’s 7th Annual Digital Kids Conference.

Co-locating at the Toy Industry Association’s (TIA) American International Toy Fair in New York City, the Digital Kids Conference will be one of several educational events available to Toy Fair’s 30,000 attendees.

Sessions will be held throughout the day on Tuesday, February 12 and Wednesday, February 13, bringing youth-focused digital media executives, brand owners, and licensors together to learn critical information about engaging children online and through digital devices. The following are some conference highlights:

Multi-tasking in Life and in Digital Marketing, Victor Lee, VP, Digital Brand Marketing, Hasbro: This keynote presentation on the opening day of the conference will address marketing programs that “multitask” and keep pace with fast-moving consumers. Lee will describe how he created multi-channel programs that go beyond the old style of marketing to re-ignite fans’ interest in iconic brands such as My Little Pony, Transformers, Furby, Nerf, and Playskool.

Data On Youth and Parents: “Everyone has an iPad,” Amy Henry, Vice President of Youth Insights, C+R Research: This presentation will reveal fresh-from-the-field data on youth, parents, and tech. Henry will help attendees sort the myths from the truths when it comes to the real habits and practices of everyone–from preschoolers to teens and parents.

Kids and the Power of New, Jesse Schell, CEO, Schell Games: This second-day keynote will address the toy industry’s obsession with innovation. Schell, CEO of Schell Games, will explore why some new things take off while others bomb out, the different kinds of “new” and how they differ psychologically, and how you can make sure you have the right kind of “new” in what you create.

Kids and Design: Keys to Success, Caroline Hu Flexer, CEO and Co-Founder, Duck Duck Moose: Duck Duck Moose is the startup behind a series of educational apps for children with more than 2.5 million paid downloads. The company recently closed $7 million in Series A funding led by venture capitalists Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners with participation from Stanford University. In her keynote, Hu Flexer will share personal insights and details about how a unique design process has led to success in the digital space.

New Products

Buffalo Games will develop adult and family board games and card games based on the National Geographic Channel series, Brain Games. The Joester Loria Group served as the exclusive licensing agency behind the deal. The initial product offering will require that players complete a series of challenges and experiments intended to test all aspects of [...]

Two familiar faces from the Marvel Universe—one friendly, the other slightly less so—make their way into Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition) today. Fans will be able to purchase figures for Falcon and Loki, who join a variety of Marvel super heroes, Disney fan favorites, and more to create all-new adventures. Loki’s character highlights [...]

LEGO Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin is available now from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, and The Lego Group. Available in all major retail stores across North America for the Nintendo 3DS and the PlayStation Vita, the game is based on the LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu TV series. The latest LEGO Ninjago installment introduces [...]

In anticipation of the new movie, Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, Funko is will be re-releasing previously vaulted Star Wars Pop! until the film arrives in theaters on December 18. The re-released Pop! will come in special edition packaging that distinguishes them from the original items. Available in stores this April, Greedo is [...]

Playability Toys has officially launched Pigsy, an educational gaming app that teaches basic financial literacy. Later versions will include unique personalization features intended to make learning engaging and fun. “We are very excited to launch Pigsy, which marks our expansion into the educational app world,” said Adam Small, the CEO of Playability Toys. “Like our [...]